In our Sunday evening youth group, we are three weeks into a four-week series on the Misconceptions about Jesus/Christianity, using the tried and true video clips produced by Vintage 21. In preparation for last night's lesson, I had asked several ministry buds, as well as my students and sponsors to give me what they would consider their #1 misconception about Jesus/Christianity. Here are the results of that survey in a top ten order of my own choosing:
10. Jesus was/is white.
9. Jesus was a good man/good teacher...that's all.
8. Jesus was all about the "do's and don't's."
7. Jesus was meek & mild walking around like Mr. Rogers all the time.
6. Jesus doesn't hear me any more.
5. Jesus drank alcohol so it is okay for teens to do the same.
4. Christians shouldn't be seen in places like casinos or bars, because it would "ruin our witness."
3. You have to get your life straightened out before Jesus will love you or use you for Kingdom work.
2. Jesus wouldn't really let us go to hell for our sins because He loves us too much to do that.
1. The Primary Reason Jesus died was because He loves us. (the Primary Reason was to honor and obey God the Father, Whose plan was for Jesus to die to take away our sins).
I have asked my students and sponsors to provide me with a top ten list of ways Christians perpetuate these misconceptions, and will compile them for this Sunday's lesson. Any thoughts along those lines? What is it that those who claim to follow Christ do these days that perpetuate misconceptions about what it means to truly follow Christ? How do we further perpetuate the misconceptions people have about Jesus? I am interested in your replies. You know how to reach me.
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2 comments:
Ok. On the #1 misconception. I think that is a questionable one. We know that God loved us enough to send His Son to die for us and our sins. And since we know that God and Jesus are one with the Holy Spirit. Wouldn't the #1 misconception statement be true?? Jesus did in fact Love us enough to go to the cross. He Loved us FIRST. Which would make that primary in my book. His death on the cross was obedience as well. We all know that sin and the sting of death had to be defeated. That was because He loves us too. But to make "Because He Loved us" secondary is tough for me to settled with. Without Love than why? What other motive could possibly supersede His love for us.
Just my 1/2 cent.
Jim
Yes, but the point of this misconception is this: Jesus, the man who prayed in the Garden for God to take this cup of suffering from Him, but wound up with the "not my will, but Yours be done" prayer, was not all that excited about the death He had to suffer. He was excited about obeying and honoring God the Father and the plan to redeem mankind. Was love the motivation for this plan? Yes. If Jesus could have come up with a different way to put this plan into effect, would He have suggested it to God the Father. Hmmmm....
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